New Year’s group wedding, bell ringing, berry picking

A boy is all smiles showing off the strawberries freshly picked at the annual Jinshan Strawberry Festival.

The New Year's holiday has been reduced from three days to only one day this year, since it falls midweek, but Jinshan District will hold a day of celebrations at its historic sites and scenic spots.

One of the highlights is the annual group wedding.

Water town

Fengjing water town, a destination for couples who want their big day to be filled with Chinese folk culture.

In 2010, the city's big wedding was held at the Shanghai Expo Park and in 2011 the event moved to scenic West Lake in Hangzhou, famous for love stories.

In 2012, it was held in Jinshan.

Tomorrow, Fengjing will be decorated in red. Brides dressed in red satin and bridegrooms will tie the knot on boat rides along the town's crisscrossing canals.

Tourists can also visit the new Folk Wedding Cultures and Customs Museum, recently opened on the eastern side of Zhihe Bridge. It features a "love wall," where lovers can sign their name as well as "love locks," or closed padlocks symbolizing lasting love. It contains a statue of Yue Lao, a mythical matchmaker, and a Guanyin Buddha who is said to send children to couples.

Admission includes a "wish card," on which visitors can write their wishes for the new year and tie them on the wish trees.

Admission: 50 yuan

How to get there:

• By car: Shanghai-Hangzhou Highway (A8 section). Get off at Fengjing Exit. Follow the signs for two minutes to the town's parking lot.

• By subway: Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Jinjiang Amusement Park Station. Take the shuttle bus Fengmei Line (Fengjing to Meilong) at the transit hub next to the Metro station. It takes 45 minutes to reach the town.

• By bus: Frequent daily shuttle buses to Fengjing leave Shanghai Stadium and Hongkou Football Stadium.

'Bell Bash'

Donglin Temple in Zhujing Town opens its door for the annual "Bell Bash" from 10pm today to the minute before midnight.

The temple was first built in 1308, dedicated to Guanyin, goddess of compassion.

Today it is a destination for pilgrims and tourists from around the world. It is one of five important Buddhist sites in southwestern Shanghai.

People can ring the bell, burn incenses, and kowtow to the Buddha.

Visitors can taste New Year's noodle and receive blessing from the abbot.

Address: 150 Donglin St, Zhujing Town

Admission: 30 yuan

How to get there: Take Lianzhu Line (Lianhua Road to Zhujing Town) at Metro Line 1 Lianhua Road Station. It takes about an hour.